Belle Île en Mer (2)

We woke up to much better weather, still cold as you can tell by our jackets but it WAS the beginning of March after all.

Another shot inside the house: that's our bedroom above the living room...

...and Catherine seeing us off on our next walk.

And what a walk, around Le Phare des Poulains, walking distance from Sauzon, Jean-Pierre & Jean in view here...

...later: Tine, Jean & Monique.

We were invited for lunch by junior cousins, Julie & Cédric, and what a lovely home they have 

A pretty full cousinade before lunch!

Later, a walk near Locmaria, with its secluded beaches

A fabulous pile of rocks at La Pointe de Taillfer... 

...and sunset back near Sauzon (that's Jean & me there)! 

Belle Île en Mer (1)

We've visited cousins Jean-Pierre & Catherine in their second home on Belle Île a few years ago, but this time we made it a real cousinade with Jean & Monique too!

The ferry took us from Quimper to Le Palais (leaving J&M's car safely parked up on the mainland).

Our home for three nights: wonderful!

Despite the very dull and damp weather we couldn't resist going for a walk along the nearby cliffs

Some of our intrepid explorers ahead on the coastal path

Dropping down into Sauzon where JP&C live

Back home: Catherine in the kitchen...

...Jean & Tine amused at something or other...

...and later, a very busy Monique, Tine & Catherine choosing beads for the bracelets to be made by Catherine.

L'Aiguillon & a walk through the marshes

Back in February long before Tine's recent operation she was getting herself fit at the gym in L'Aiguillon, just down the coast from La Tranche. Being less active (!) I managed  the 'big shop' at the local Super U then went for a stroll by the estuary of the River Lay.

It's hard to forget that fateful night eight years ago when many people lost their lives in Tempête Xynthia. 

It was interesting to see the mussels boat in dry-dock. You can make out the stakes on which the shellfish are farmed.

On the nearby roundabout you can see how the mussels attach themselves to the stakes, wrapped in spiralling rope.

Another day, a walk through the marshes near to chez nous

Heads or tails?!

'Chick chick chick chicken, lay a little egg for me'

Tine's had a replacement hip and Sacha's had a replacement tree, sadly the original not surviving

Number two's looking very healthy and well labelled!

Winter beach walks

As you can see, it's not all blue skies in La Tranche out of season

The information panel explains about 'L'Ecluse à Poissons', a man-made, horseshoe wall of stones that traps fish when the tide goes out. They date from mediaeval times but at least two still exist on the La Tranche beaches (with a little help from volunteers).

The more famous one is near Le Phare (lighthouse) but this one is at La Grière

As the tide went out it became more and more visible

A couple of weeks later and La Belle Henriette nature reserve is well and truly under water, the breach to the sea far right of the photo

Just to show we still have blue skies, here's the beach at Les Conches...

...but a few days later, a very unusual occurrence: SNOW!

Next day that's all there was left